Upgrade Pactor 2 to Pactor 3 ??

[pjandart]

I have a pactor 2 modem and wonder if I need to up grade to a three?
I am planning to go to sea again and wondered if I can still use the pactor 2 modem?
Is there any reason to up grade to a pactor 3 ?

[Artful Dodger]

The pactor three is much better and it is only a cost up grade not equipment, we up graded when we left Newfoundland and were able to get all our weather reports and emails, as well the pactor three uses station that are for pactor three only as well using pactor two stations as well pactor three is faster like high speed. The 168 dollars we paid was well worth the investment.

[matauwhi]

G'day, mate. Ditto Artful Dodger's advice....you will like the increased speed for the dollars. All the best. Cheers.

[colemj]

Yes, there are still quite a few P2 stations around the world, so you will still be able to use your P2 modem if you wish. P3 is faster, but if you are just sending occasional simple emails and downloading gribs or other simple weather data, the extra speed over P2 is not that significant in practice (maybe an extra minute or two connected). P3 is certainly not a "high speed" connection.

If you rely on your modem for extensive communications or larger data files, then P3 is certainly worth the upgrade. Also, there are more stations available for connecting to, so you have more choices when propagation is not favorable or when certain stations are busy with heavy traffic.

Mark

[model 10]

This is not clear to me. Do I send in my Pactor 2 modem to be upgraded or what?

[Jim Cate]

P-3 also seems to be more robust in noisy conditions. We thought it made a useful difference, even for simple grib files. After all, they can go 10+ kb with ease.

Cheers,

Jim VK4GFT/N9GFT

[s51ta]

Hi

I do highly recommend to upgrade to P3 or ven P4! The speed differences are enormous as well as the reception is much better with P3 modem or with P4 modem each being a step further in development.
The drawback of P4 modem for now is that this modem does not support many things sailors do like like APRS or most of the feautures Airmail do have...with a P4 modem you are more or less bounded to exchanging text messages (It works great also to send some small pics too...).

I am using both P3 modem as a modem of choice on my sailboat (for past 5 years) and run a RMS station with P4...

If you are island hoper or are not good technician and sailing only part time buy a sat phone, the rates are low and It might be a better overal buy. Also a 3G internet connections is the way to go with near land ...
If you are a techie and like to scroll the radio buttons by means of being enthusiast then a P3 will offer you a great deal of enjoyment.


Cheers, T.

[SoonerSailor]

Originally Posted by Michael Samson

This is not clear to me. Do I send in my Pactor 2 modem to be upgraded or what?

The code for P3 is alteady in place in your SCS Pactor modem if the firmware is up to date. If I recall correctly it is just a matter of activating it with your registration code after you purchase the P3 license. Go to the SCS website, you should be able to learn the details there.

Chip

[model 10]

Ah ha, thanks!

[AnchorageGuy]

I would suggest the Pactor 3 upgrade. There are more P3 stations being added all the time and the number of P2 stations are dwindling. Just as P1 became obsolete, so will P2 so the upgrade will be needed sooner or later. And there's the added benefit of a faster connection. Chuck

[btrayfors]

Definitely, an upgrade to P3 is a good idea.

However, all upgrades are not equal; it depends on your model and serial number. The older IIe modems require some extra work (and expense).

Suggest you get in touch with Farallon Electronics; they are the experts and the ones who can get it done for you.

Farallon Electronics 415-331-1924 - ...

Bill
WA6CCA

[AnchorageGuy]

Bill, We have a IIe and it was an easy upgrade. Farallon did make it simple for us. They just sent an email with the license code and I think that was it. We do keep the firmware updated. Chuck

[btrayfors]

Originally Posted by Waterwayguy

Bill, We have a IIe and it was an easy upgrade. Farallon did make it simple for us. They just sent an email with the license code and I think that was it. We do keep the firmware updated. Chuck

Yes, Chuck, many can be upgraded that way. However, the older ones (below a certain serial #) need modification. We just sent one of mine in to Farallon for the upgrade.

Here's the straight poop from their website:

Quote
The Electronic Serial Number Module enables older modems (PTC-II and PTC-IIe) to be upgraded with PACTOR III mode firmware.



PLEASE NOTE: this is a hardware modification and requires your modem to be returned to Farallon Electronics .



The $119.00 price is inclusive of the ESN Module (hardware) and labor but does not include the PACTOR III license, which must be purchased separately. Please contact Farallon for clarification if needed.


The PTC-II and many PTC-IIe modems pre-date the Electronic Serial Number system that is embedded in current production PTC modems. Unquote




Bill
WA6CCA

[colemj]

If your modem pre-dates the ESN system, you can still get a P3 license tied to your call sign registration without sending the hardware in for modification. They do not advertise this, but we did it.

The problem is that the P3 license is only good for you, and not the hardware. In other words, it is not transferable, so if you sell/give the modem to someone else, it will only be a P2 modem again.

Mark

[SeaGlub]

How can I find out if my Pactor IIe has already been upgraded?